Request agent authorisation
To view your client's historical VAT information (payments and liabilities) your client needs to authorise you with HMRC.
From the client list in Partner Edition you can see at a glance the authorisation status with your clients.
Tip: Use the VAT Authorised option to filter the client list based on their authorisation status.
VAT authorisation statuses
The VAT Authorised status can be one of the following:
| Status | What does this mean? | |
|---|---|---|
| Authorised |
|
You are authorised to view your client's VAT information. Behind the scenes, this means that when Sage VAT Centre contacted HMRC, they were able to provide obligation periods for your client. |
| Not authorised |
|
You're not yet authorised. There are a few reasons why Sage VAT Centre displays this status. At this time, you can't change this status manually, so consider whether the following apply:
|
| Pending |
|
You've sent an authorisation invitation to a client but they've not yet responded. Hover over the icon and you'll see when you sent the invitation. |
| Expired |
|
You've sent an authorisation invitation to a client but they failed to respond before the invitation expired. Invitations are only active for 14 days before expiring. |
| Declined |
|
You've sent an authorisation invitation to a client but they chose not to give you permission. You may want to check with your client to understand why before sending another invitation. |
| Unknown |
We can't determine the status of the authorisation. Check by opening the client from the client list to see whether you have authorisation. From the client sidebar, select Check Status. When you select Check Status, VAT Centre attempts to retrieve your client's VAT obligation periods. If successful, the status changes to Authorised. If there are any issues, the status will change accordingly and you'll see guidance to help you move to the authorised status. |
Check the authorisation status in the client sidebar
When you select a client from the list, the client sidebar appears. From here, you can also see the authorisation status. Statuses will appear alongside the VAT Centre link.
What does check status do?
When you select Check Status, VAT Centre attempts to retrieve your client's VAT obligation periods. If successful, the status changes to Authorised. If there are any issues, the status will change accordingly and you'll see guidance to help you move to the authorised status.
Send an authorisation invite
- Select a client from the client list.
- From the client sidebar select Send an Authorisation Invitation.
-
Enter your client's VAT registration date, then select Next.
Don't know your client's VAT registration date?
-
We'll prepare an email to send to your client, requesting authorisation. Select Next.
-
The email is sent.
- Select Back to Client List.
The VAT Authorised? column will be updated for your client.
Where to find your client's VAT registration date
If you don't have your client's effective date of registration, your client can find it on their VAT certificate. This should be displayed on their wall at their premises. They should also be able to retrieve this from their online VAT account at HMRC.